MORE than 170 Merseyside schoolchildren celebrated graduating as Fire Champions at a major interactive safety event at Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium today:- Friday, 17 April 2026.

The event brought together pupils from 8 primary schools across the Region for an action-packed day of safety‑focused learning delivered by Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS).

It also recognised the children for completing the MVRP’s flagship 6-week Fire Champions programme, which aims to help primary school pupils understand risk and stay safe within their communities ahead of the move to secondary school.

After a successful pilot in 2023, the programme has been rolled out across the Region, with three schools taking part every term. Sessions are tailored to the community safety issues young people may be facing or experiencing within their schools and communities.

The programme is designed around physical activity rather than classroom-based learning and at Anfield, pupils took part in six interactive sessions educating them on fire and water safety, antisocial behaviour and hoax calls, gang exploitation and hate crime awareness, and 1st aid.

The young people from Kings Northway, Riverside, Knowsley Lane, Hope Primary, Pheonix, Egremont, St Margarets and Netherton Moss primary schools also had the opportunity to see 1st-hand how specialist fire service dogs support the emergency services during major incidents.

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- “Fire Champions is about giving young people the confidence, knowledge and real‑world understanding they need to stay safe, make better choices and look out for each other. Today’s event showed just how powerful early intervention can be. By running these fun, interactive sessions in such a memorable setting, we are reinforcing vital safety messages in a way that genuinely connects with young people. These are lessons that will stay with them as they move on to secondary school and beyond – helping to build safer, stronger communities for the future.”

Merseyside Police’s Inspector Ian Speed from the Community Engagement Unit added:- “It is increasingly important to ensure that children and young people are provided education, support and guidance at a young age about the challenges that they may face as they grow and develop.  The Fire Champions programme, run through the MVRP, aims to get primary school children thinking about the behaviours that impact upon them and the world around them. It is amazing to see the intelligence and spirit of these children and the support they get from their teachers and parents.  It is vitally important that these children continue to interact with positive role models so that they can develop into strong and confident people as they move towards secondary school and start to play a greater role within their communities.”

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Prevention Area Manager Mark Thomas said:- “We have a well-established and strong alliance with our partners in the MVRP. This allows us to really reach those younger people who look up to our Firefighters. Like our local sporting heroes, our staff are seen as role models to these young people, making huge impressions in terms of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline. It’s incredibly heartening to see the progress of those who become Fire Champions, learning about their communities, staying safe from harm and making good choices; we know that they will go on to be great ambassadors for the emergency service family with their friends, their families and in their communities.”

The Fire Champions programme is part of the MVRP’s wider partnership approach to prevention and early intervention across Merseyside, helping children understand risk, develop resilience and make informed choices.